Thursday, November 21, 2013

First, I really LIKE and RESPECT Adam's kindergarten teacher and his student teacher. I think his kindergarten teacher is fabulous (and I totally believe all elementary school teachers would be paid like NFL stars and NFL stars like elementary school teachers....MY priorities are straight....). She's also a great supervising teacher (as someone who has been through an education degree, I know) and I think his student teacher will one day be a great teacher, both because of herself and the great mentoring she's getting.

That said.....student teachers.....

So last night we had this "family fun singing" night thingie that our student teacher plus two more in the building cooked up (I'm sure it was part of some assignment as they are all Kent State students and you all know my opinion of Kent State....I'll get to more of that in a few). Okay, we aren't having a Christmas concert because the principal doesn't want to (long story, it is a matter of space, security, etc....all good reasons and I think he almost went into coronary arrest over last year's...so this year it is a craft day instead), so this sounds fun because we all like to see our kids sing and dance. First, it doesn't start until 5:30 (okay, again you want turn out, this is after work...) and they are feeding us pizza (again, a smart move...you want people to show up, promise them free food). So we there, you get food and you have time to eat...so nothing really starts until 6 (which I would have liked to know because my children really weren't interested in eating....I could have skipped the free food and just came at 6!). Honestly, I think they should have done the songs THEN fed us so you can leave as you finish. There are a few things out to see (not much though) of our children's' and some coloring pages. Okay, not horrible. Although every time we got up because the kids wanted something, we lost our seats because they didn't have enough tables down.

So at 6....the student teachers all have a little speech....not all that enlightening and then they want us ALL to come sing WITH the kids. First, we don't know the songs (they did hand out words, I give them that) or the dances (they are doing them, but it is hard to follow that). Second, we aren't really interested, let's be honest. Third, we came to watch our kids and if we are up there with them we can't do that. Last, because you don't have them in a group, all we can see is their backs....learn from music teachers...put them in a group FACING us and you put your back to us so you can encourage them along. Also, there are obviously a lot of cameras, etc., out...you have just created chaos....it would have been better to ORGANIZE us, then we all know the rules and it is easier on all of us.

Ray had to work, so I had to go alone with both boys (who were tired by this point....Adam has been sick this week). It was not all that fun, although once Adam got going, he did a good job of singing the songs and doing the motions. I was proud of him. But it would have been a lot more fun if I could have sat in a regular chair.....would have also been easier to control Andrew.....

My other beef is that elementary school teachers all are creative....I am NOT. Please don't expect me to be....student teachers are the worst because they haven't learned that we are all incompetent on this front yet....

Oh, my other point...so when I student taught, you did it FULL TIME. Meaning you went all week, all day. You were TEACHING. These girls come TWICE a week. Really? This is NOT student teaching that's field experience (which I was required to do every year before my final year when I student taught). Kent State needs to FIX that. That is RIDICULOUS and takes away the entire point, in my opinion!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Oh, it turned out Andrew had an upper respiratory track infection....grrr....first, that I was in last week and they said there was nothing and second, that I missed it on Thursday....but we got him in on Friday (no thanks to the pediatrician's office who, of course, couldn't see him) and he's doing much better. Now hopefully we can all get some sleep....

Thursday, November 14, 2013

I got called to pick up Andrew from school today. He was coughing...honestly, he really isn't sick. It is all drainage and he is coughing a lot. Not my definition of sick....but oh, well, I picked the kid up. He's had a few coughing fits and they must have taken pity on him. I really wish this cough would go away! He's fine 95% of the time, but that 5% he does sound pretty miserable. I wish I could help him....

We made these today. Ray just loved them! I'm going to try making my own pizza dough next time! These are very versatile - you can really put anything in them! I just put what I did this time, but it is just like pizza - you do whatever you'd like in pizza!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

So we got back from CO, then Adam got sick...then Andrew....so we are finally all healthy (may we stay this way!) now and hopefully can really seem to get with it. Andrew is our little "sickie" and gets everything SO MUCH harder than Adam, so its been a long week with him.

I spent today catching up and hopefully will continue tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Adam's conference was yesterday - he's doing really well. His strength is definitely math (he can already add and subtract), and not reading...and of course all the standardized testing the state does - reading only! UGH!! He'll get there. His behavior has really improved and that makes it possible for him to really start learning. He's working on sight reading now.

His teacher did tell me that she had the class all write out their numbers, to see who could do it and Adam was the one of the few who could! Now start on letters and he's hopeless....oh, well, he is learning them, just much more slowly. He likes numbers a lot more!

I had Andrew's conference last week - he's doing okay, but definitely to the "I don't want to do this" stage of preschool....I was in there on Tuesday and got to see first hand. He actually sits okay and does fine most of the time...until he decides he doesn't want to do something and then he just won't do it (example: trace your name). He'll get the message....

Friday, November 01, 2013

So this week has been unproductive and I knew yesterday was going to be a mess and it was. I mean I got to do cool things with the boys (which I don't begrudge them), but I didn't get anything accomplished....

Andrew's school had a Harvest Fest, which I helped with. Then I had like an hour before I had to be back to pick him up (he was pretty upset that I was there, but he wasn't going home....). Then we had lunch with Daddy as a treat. We then had to be at Adam's school at 1:30 for his Halloween parade, which made Adam very happy, but meant a grumpy Andrew (who should have been napping already). Go home, get Andrew down, then get him back up like 40 minutes later to go get Adam from the bus.....

Dinner and whatnot, then Ray gets home from Tai Chi and then I'm off to knitting. Then I had orientation at 9....what a day....it wouldn't have seemed so annoying if the rest of the week hadn't been so unproductive....

Andrew also seems to be developing a cough....ugh.....he's home today (he doesn't have school on Fridays) and is already being a pest....